Japan FTC Warns Amazon, Google over Video Streaming Services
11:46 JST, March 7, 2024
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Japan’s Fair Trade Commission on Wednesday warned Amazon.com Inc. and Google LLC that they may be violating the country’s antimonopoly law, over video streaming services.
If the U.S. technology giants cause disadvantages to streaming services that use their television operating systems by changing terms and conditions unilaterally, that could amount to abuse of their superior bargaining position, prohibited by the antimonopoly law, the FTC said.
The antitrust watchdog urged the two companies to consult with service providers fully in advance when changing terms and conditions.
A survey of consumers and service providers, released by the FTC on Wednesday, showed that TV operating systems from Amazon and Google together hold about 70% of the market. The oligopoly by the two companies is unique to Japan.
Amazon plans to collect commission fees from the operators of TVer, Abema and other free video streaming services. TVer streams TV programs, while Abema is partly owned by TV Asahi Corp. The FTC said that it will keep monitoring the plan.
The FTC also pointed out that the practice by Amazon and Google of giving priority to their own streaming services in their video rankings and recommendations could lead to private monopoly, calling for the companies to disclose their standards as much as possible.
According to the survey, even TVs manufactured by Sharp Corp. and Sony Corp. use Google’s Android operating system. Panasonic Corp. is switching its own operating system to Amazon’s Fire.
“The influence of Amazon and Google will grow further in the future,” an FTC official said.
"Politics" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida Promotes Revised NISA Investment Program to Young People; Kishida Focusing on Moving Money From Savings to Investment in a Safe Environment
-
Japan, U.S. to Join Forces on AI, Semiconductors; Seek to Counter China’s ‘Military-Civil Fusion’
-
Japan, U.S. to Work Together for Expanding Marine Product Supply Chains; Countering China’s Economic Coercion
-
84% of People Nationwide Say They Feel Japan’s National Security Is Under Threat
-
“High Probability” 2 MSDF Patrol Helicopters Collided near Torishima Island; 1 Dead, 7 Others Onboard Missing (Update 2)
JN ACCESS RANKING
- M6.0 Earthquake Hits Japan’s Tohoku Region; Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi Prefectures Observe 4 on Japanese Scale With No Risk of Tsunami
- China Mutes Memorialization of Reformer Hu Yaobang; Memories Could Spark Critique of Xi Administration
- Shinkansen Services Suspended After Man ‘Searches for Phone’ on Tracks; Disruption Affects About 14,000 Passengers
- U.S. 7th Fleet officer Arrested on Suspicion of Stealing Sushi, Sashimi, Chicken at Kanagawa Shopping Mall; Suspect Caught Mid-Meal
- UNRWA Director Describes Catastrophic Destruction in Gaza; Says Relief Trucks Robbed, ‘People’s Hearts Destroyed’